The ADA Joins the Race to Go Green

The American Dental Association, which represents more than 155,000 dentists nation wide, is taking steps to become more environmentally friendly. They have implemented several BMPs (Best Management Practices) in order to better protect the environment.

One step that the ADA is taking is to eliminate the use of bulk mercury in dentistry. Dentists now use encapsulated amalgam, which are capsules containing a small amount of elemental mercury and the powdered metals with which it is mixed. The ADA has also reduced the amount of dental amalgam that enters the waste stream.

Since dentists are voluntarily taking on these new practices, it provides hope that other fields of business and other associations will begin to implement their own environment protection programs.